Electric switch.



J. L. McQUARRlE.

ELCTRIC SWITCH.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT-22. l9l6.

Patented D60. 4, 1917.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 021 2 far.-

fames L M Qua/vie.

J. L. McQUARRIE.

ELECTRIC SWITCH.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT.22. i916.

1,249,154. Patented Dec. 4,1917.

2 SHEETS SNEET Z.

Myer/for: lam s L M Quark/e.

UNITED STATES Parana OFFICE.

JAMES L. MCQUARRIE, OF MONTCLAIR. NENV JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO "WESTERNELECTRIC COMPANY, INCORPORATED, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.. A CORPORATION OF NEWYORK.

ELECTRIC SWITCH.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 4, 1917.

Application filed September 22, 1916. Serial No. 121,584.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES L. McQnAnnm, a citizen of the United States,residing at Montclair, in the county of Essex and State of New Jersey,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Electric Switches,of which the following is a full, clear, concise. and exact description.

Thisinvention relates to electric switches, and especially to switchesfor use in auto matic and semiautomatic telephone systems.

The object of the invention is to effect the association of a movablecontact with the terminals of a desired line by the use of a mechanicalstop arranged to preselect such line. The switch is shown in use as aline switch to connect a calling line to an idle trunk leading tosucceeding apparatus, but itis obviously not restricted to such use andmay be used in any place where it is desired to render a plurality ofoutgoing lines available to one or more incoming lines of anydescription.

In the embodiment of the invention shown, a test brush having amechanical stop arranged in fixed relation thereto moves over theterminals of a test bank and stops on a terminal in the desiredcondition. A movable contact is arranged to move over a line terminalbank and is released when the trunk terminating in said movable contactis seized. On release, it moves until it engages with the stoppreviously set, in which position the movable contact is located on theterminals of the desired line. The call is extended through the lineterminals taken to secure the called party in any desired manner.On'taking of the line terminals, the test brushes of other switchesresting on the test'terminals of that line are moved into contact withthe next terminal in the test ba nk in the desired condition. thuspreselecting the terminal set to be taken by the operation of the nextmovable contact. On completion of conversation, the brush is returned tonormal, bringing with it the movable contact. On reaching normal, thecontactis engaged against further movement while the brush moves at onceto preselect another test terminal in the desired-condition. 1

Referring to drawings, Figure 1 shows a side elevation of a switchembodying the features of the invention. Fig. 2 shows a partial frontelevation of the same, and Fig. 3 shows a circuit arrangement for usewith the switch when used as a line switch.

The switch bank is of the panel type and comprises an upper section 9 inwhich the multiple terminal sets of a trunk leading to succeedingapparatus are located, and a lower section 10, containing only testterminals to indicate the condition of the terminal sets in the upperbank to which they are individual. In addition to a multiple testterminal for each of the lines in the upper section 9, section 10contains a terminal 11, located at the bottom of the bank and connectedto ground for a purpose to be later described. The terminal sets of thecontact banlts 9 and 10 are multipled to provide a number of sets equalto the number of individual switches included within the unit. Each ofthe switches in the unit has a grounded contact 12 closed in theuppermost position of an elevating rod 13 which carries at its lower enda slotted bar 14. Com mon to all of the switches is a down-drivefriction roll 15 and an up-drive friction roll 15' with which engagementof the bars 14; is controlled by down-drive magnets 16' and up-drivemagnets 17 individual to each switch in the unit. The down-d rive magnet16 upon energization pulls up its armature 18 causing an idler 19 toforce the bar 14 against the down-drive friction roll 15. An extension20 on the armature 1S disengages a holding pawl 21 from the slots in thebar 14 to admit of downward movement. The up-drive magnet 17 is ofsimilar construction and, on energization. causes an idler 22 carried onthe armature 23 to force the bar 14 against the up-drive roller 15,while an extension 24ldisengages a holding pawl 25 from the slots in thebar 14 to permit upward movement of said bar. The holding pawl 21 isarranged to permit upward movement of the bar, but to normally preventdownward movement, while the holding pawl 25 permits downward movementbut normally prevents upward movement. The rod 13 is slidablethrough alower plate 26 of the switch frame and carrieson its upper end a contactset 27 slidable over the terminals in section 10. In addition, anofi-normal contact 28 and a stop plate 29 are mounted on the rod 13.Slidable through the stop plate 29 and through plates 30 and 31 of theswitch frame is a movable contact support 32. Mounted on this support isa contact set 33 comprisingbrushes to engage the three rows of terminalsallotted thereto in the contact bank 9. Extending forwardly from thesecontacts is a latch-piece 34 with which an armature 35 of a magnet 36normally engages. Each of the switches is provided with a spring 37secured at one end to a stationary part 38 of the switch frame and atthe other end to a pulley 39 rotatably mounted on a shaft 40. A wire 41secured to the pulley 39 and the contact support 32 tends to raise thecontact set 33 under the influence of spring 37, but is normallyprevented from doing so by engagement of the armature 35 with thelatch-piece 3-1. Bigidly secured to the lower end of the contact support32 is a stop collar 42 for engagement with the stop piece 29 on upwardmovement of said support. The support 32 also carries an arm 43 which,in the lowermost position of the support 32, opens contacts 4A and 455,closed in the normal position of the movable contact, and which, whenthe collar 42 engages the stop-piece 29, closes the contact 28.

The operation of the switch, in connection with a suitable circuitarrangement therefor, is as follows: On removal of the receiver of thesubscribers set A, shown in Fig. 3, a circuit is completed to the magnet36 over a circuit extending from ground, left-hand winding of magnet 36,conductor 50, back contact of the armature 23 of the magnet 17,conductor 51,-, inner left-hand armature and back contact of cut-offrelay 52, conductor 53 subscriber set A, conductor 54:, righthandarmature and back contact of cut-ofi' relay 52, conductor 55, right-handwinding of magnet 36 to groundedbattery; The magnet 36 attracts itsarmature, releasing the support 32, which springs up until the collar 42engage the stop-piece 29. This brings the contact set 33 on theterminals of the line selected by the brush 27. Energization of themagnet 36 also operates to remove battery supply from the test brush 56of the contact set 33. On upward movement of the support 32, theoff-normal contacts 44, 45 are closed, and when the arm 43 engages thecontact 28 to close the same, a circui t is completed for cut-off relay52, the outer left-hand armature of which is made slow to pull up. Thiscircuit extends from grounded battery, relay 52, conductors 57, 58,contact 23, conductor 59, right-hand armature and back contact of relay60 to ground. Energization of the cut-oil relay extends the lines 53 and54 over the conductors 61 and 62 to the line brushes 63 and 6%, thenceover the lines secured to the terminals which they engage to succeedingapparatus. Ihe succeeding apparatus is actuated to secure connection tothe called party in any desired manner. On energization of the cut-offrelay 52, the armature 35 of magnet 36 falls oit. The succeedingapparatus would be arranged so that no ground is placed on brush 56 toenergize release relay 65 until disconnectionis desired. Uponenergization of cut-off relay 52, ground is placed on the test terminalsof the seized line in section 10, on which terminals brushes 27 of otherswitches may be positioned. A circuit is completed; for the up-drivemagnets 17 of such switches from the grounded terminal in section 10,brushes 27, conductors 66, outer left-hand armatures of cut-oli relays52, conductors 67, up-drive magnets 17, conductors 6S, and back contactsand left-hand armatures of release relays 60 of such switches togrounded battery. The tip-drive magnets 17 then move the brushes 27upwardly into engagement with the next ungrounded terminal in section10, whereupon the circuit is broken at the brushes 27. The brushes 27are made sufficiently broad to bridge adjacent terminals in section 10while moving from terminal to terminal. Preselection is thus providedfor the other switches in the unit.

On completion of conversation, the res toration of succeeding apparatusplaces ground upon the brush 56 of the switch in use and completes acircuit to return relay 65; this circuit extending from ground over thecontact brush 56, conductor 70, back contact and armature 35 of magnet36. conductor 75, and left-hand winding of relay 65 to grounded battery.Relay 65 pulls up, ener gizing relay 60 over a circuit extending fromground, left-hand armature and front contact of relay 65, conductor 71and relay 60 to grounded battery; The right-hand armature of the relay65, when attracted, completes a holding circuit extending from ground,off-normal contact 45, conductor 72 right-hand armature and frontcontact and right-hand wnding of relay 65 to grounded battery. Thisoperates to hold the relay 65 up until the arm 4:3 is returned to normalposition. Energization of relay 60 completes a circuit for thedown-drive magnet 16 extending from ground, right-hand armature andfront contact of relay 60, conductor 73, magnet 16 to grounded battery.This draws the bar 14 down to normal posi- 'tion" and the stop-piece 29engages the collar 42 to bring the support 32 to its lowermost positionwhereupon the latch-piece 34 is engaged and held by the armature 35.This movement causes the arm 43 to open the offnormal contacts 44 and45, breaking the holding circuit of the release relay 65. This in turndeenergizes relay 60 and the downdrive magnet 16.

In its lowermost position, brush 27 en gages grounded terminal 11 insection 10, which completes a circuit for the up-drive magnet 17,extending from ground, brush 27, conductor 66, outer left-hand armatureand back contact of cut-ofi' relay 52, conductor 67, updrive magnet 17,conductor 68, back contact and left-hand armature of relay 60 togrounded battery. Relay 52 is energized at this time, but its outerleft-hand armature being slow to pull up, does not interrupt the circuitto the up-drive magnet 17, as the brush moves and opens the contact 28,breaking the circuit to the relay 52 before it can pull up its outerleft-hand armature. The test brush 27 thereupon is moved upwardly untilthe circuit of the up-drive magnet 17 is broken by the test brush 27encountering an ungrounded terminal. The contact 28 opens on upwardmovement of the test brush and leaves the switch ready for subsequentoperation.

In the event that an idle line should not be found by the brushes 27before reaching the upper terminal in section 10, it is necessary toinsure the return of the brushes to the bottom of the terminal bank.Contact 12 is closed when the brush 27 arrives at its upper limit ofmovement and completes a circuit for magnet 65, from ground, contact 12,conductor 74, relay to grounded battery. Relay 65 being energized willoperate relay 60 and down-drive magnet 16 to return the switch to itlowermost position in which the contact set 33 is held while the testbrush 27 moves up and stops on the first idle terminal found.

What is claimed is:

1. In an electric switching device a bank of line terminals, a set ofline brushes therefor, a bank of test terminals, a test brush thereformovable independently of said set of line brushes, means for moving saidtest brush to a predetermined position. in said test bank, stop meanscontrolled by said test brush for predetermining the posi tion of saidset of line brushes, and means for subsequently moving said set of linebrushes to the position determined by said test brush.

2. In an electric switching device, a bank of line terminals, a set ofline brushes therefor, a bank of test terminals, a test brush therefor,a mechanical stop to limit the movement of said set of line brushes,

means controlled by the condition of said test terminals to positionsaid stop to preselect a desired line terminal.

3. In an electric switching device, a bank of line terminals, a set ofline brushes therefor, a bank of test terminals, a brush for said bankof test terminals, a mechanical stop to limit the movement of said setof line brushes, means to hold said set of line brushes againstmovement, means to position said stop to preselect a desired lineterminal, means to release said holding means, and means for moving saidset of line brushes to the position predetermined by the movement of thetest brush.

4. In an electric switching device, a bank of line terminals, a set ofline brushes therefor, a bank of test terminals, a test brush therefor,a mechanical stop to limit the movement of said set of line brushes,means to move said stop to select an idle test terminal, means to movesaid set of line brushes to the position determined by said stop, a lineterminating in said set of line brushes, and means controlled over saidline to normally hold said set of line brushes against movement.

5. In an electric switching device, a bank of line terminals, a set ofline brushes therefor, a bank of test terminals, a test brush therefor,a mechanical stop to limit the movement of said set of line brushes,means to position said stop to preselect a desired terminal, means tomove said set of line brushes to the position determined by said stop,means normally holding said set of line brushes against movement, andmeans to release said holding means.

6. In an electric switching device, a bank of line terminals, a set ofline brushes therefor, a bank of test terminals, a test brush therefor,a mechanical stop to limit the movement of said set of line brushes,means to position said stop to preselect a desired terminal for said setof line brushes, spring means to move said set of brushes, and means toreturn said set of brushes to normal position and rewind said spring.

7. In an electric switching device, a bank of line terminals, a set ofline brushes therefor, a bank of test terminals, a test brush therefor,means for moving said test brush to a predetermined position in saidtest bank, stop means controlled by said test brush for predeterminingthe position of said line brushes, means for subsequently moving saidline brushes to their predetermined position, and a common restoringmeans for said line and test brushes.

8. In an electric switching device, a bank of line terminals, a set ofline brushes therefor, a bank of test terminals, a shaft, a test brushcarried by said shaft, a stop carried by said shaft for limiting themovement of Coplea of this patent may be obtained for leasing saidholding means, and a common power-driven means for returning said shaftsto their normal positions.

In Witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this 20th day ofSeptember, A. D.,

J ALWIES L. MOQUARRIE.

five cents each, by addressing the "Commissioner 0! Patents. Washington,D. C.

